Paradise Air – Hawaii

Denise, Tom and Heidi are the sweetest ever. I surprised my boyfriend with a 30 min lesson. At the end of the tour we both changed our minds and got the full package that included photos, videos and an awesome T-​Shirt. I flew with Denise and she was more than wonderful. She truly shows her passion in all the work she does for her clients to ensure we have the best time in the air. Take advantage of your Flight time!!! I was a little scared at first, but Denise made me feel confident and calm to take control. Heidi was more than helpful. After our flight she made sure we were informed with all activities near us, the best places to eat and secret spots. This experience was the highlight of our visit in Oahu! I can’t wait to do it again.

Best experience of my life. Great staff. fun, exciting, and the most beautiful sights I have ever seen. Went twice, and if I come back to Hawaii I’m going again.

Denise and Tom are amazing… you will love every minute of this adventure! Don’t hesitate… book now!

One of the greatest experiences on the island! Be prepared for beautiful views and a relaxing experience! We loved our experience! Tom and Denise are amazing and will show you an amazing time!

This review comes long overdue, but it’s no surprise that it could wait considering it falls as a 5 like the majority of them. AMAZING experience! We went to Oahu for a friend’s wedding last July. Of course before the trip I was researching and just had to do this once I saw how awesome it looked, it became a bucket list priority for sure. (not sure it was on there before since I didn’t really know about it). Tom and Denise are fantastic, but most of all what sticks out to me is that safety is their main priority. I rode with Tom and my friend had Denise, so I cannot speak for her as much but Tom was great. He was very knowledgable and conversational, pointing out different things on the island from up high, getting good camera shots, and allowing me to be involved in the flight as much as I felt comfortable. We were staying on Waikiki beach, so the drive out was a trek, but a fantastic way to see the island and spend the rest of the day on the north shore. You do need to make an appointment in advance of your trip though. I believe Denise worked with me on that. The lady that waits with you and gets you prepped is also very nice. They have a keurig coffee machine and do allow others to hang out (my fiancé did not fly). They will take pictures of you in your suits before take off. You cannot take anything on the glider, so I recommend buying the photos and video as your memory of the trip. Expensive experience, but one of a kind and worth it to an avid traveler and adventurer like me. This wasn’t so much about the thrills but relaxing, gorgeous breathtaking views of Oahu that you cannot get any other way.

This was our one «adventurous» outing for our honeymoon and I am so glad we went thru with it. Our first appointment was cancelled due to weather but we got to do it a few days later. I have to say this was most definitely the highlight of our whole trip. The views are terrific and the owners Tom and Denise are so cool and such good people. We went on a whale watching trip earlier in the week but didn’t see any bc the season was pretty much over. But while flying with Denise I saw a mom and baby whale from above. It was such an awesome moment. My only regret is that we didn’t get to go at he beginning of our trip bc they give you a map marked with all kinds of cool stuff to do on the island on it. DEFINITELY worth the price. I highly recommend this place if you are looking for something exciting to do on your trip!

Flying with paradise was some of the coolest flying I’ve ever done, it’s right up there with my backseat (incentive) flight in an F-​16. The main difference here, besides the great pilots and staff, is the beautiful scenery and the type of flying you do. You get to do things here, with these machines that you can’t do at home! Plus you actually feel every little bit of it, which for any pilot is only a good thing. The more you feel, the more in tune with the aircraft you are, which only enhances the flying experience. This was a surprise gift for myself and Father in law for our birthdays. I flew with Denise, he flew with Tom.
Tom, Denise, Hannah, Mahalo again! Awesome job guys!

My 2 teenagers LOVED this experience. Even at 7:15 AM, they had a blast! Denise and Tom are fantastic and have a deep passion and long history in aviation. They immediately connect with their customers and do everything possible to mitigate any anxiety about flying.
Even their assistant Heidi was a complete professional and a joy to be around. It’s very hard to find and retain assistants that have the same passion and care that the owners have.
Paradise Air is by far the best of any activity the kids have experienced anywhere. It’s totally safe yet still exhilarating as you’re with complete pros. Thousands of flights with zero incidents. Awesome experience!

My husband and I decided to take an adventure of a lifetime in Hawaii and that is exactly what we got at Paradise Air! They made our whole vacation! My husband and I are adventurous people. We’ve both been skydiving for decades, with thousands of jumps each, so we didn’t think this was going to be as amazing as it was. We were so wrong. We both flew for the full hour. The best thing was that they were able to take us both up at the same time and even fly in view of each other. Who wants to sit around and take turns?! Not us. Dollar for dollar, minute for minute, I don’t know why you’d come to the island to skydive when you’ll get so much more out of flying these powered hang gliders. I felt safe and comfortable the whole time and when I got down, I had a perma-​grin stuck to my face for weeks.
The photographs and video we got were priceless. Every friend who watches our videos wants to go to Oahu to experience it for themselves. If you could see our video, you’d understand. There is such a feeling of freedom up there while you are flying, with the most amazing view of the island you just won’t get anywhere else. We even got that beautiful view of the island in the video and photos.
You could go skydiving, or take a ride in a helicopter, or any number of other things, but trust me, if you don’t do this, you’re really missing out. This is absolutely the best thing to do on the island in our opinion.

Best. Experience. Ever! The highlight of our trip.
Originally my boyfriend and I we were going to go on a helicopter ride over Oahu, but I am SO happy that went hang gliding at Paradise Air instead. Hang gliding is so much more intimate.
I went on the website and email Denise all of our information and she promptly called me back to give me available dates. She was so friendly and personable. She emailed me directions which were very helpful and lead us right to their hanger, bright and early.
We are both not a big fan of heights and were feeling nervous before we got there. Denise and her husband Tom made us feel so comfortable and at home and calmed us down completely with their understanding of the process. The take off was very gentle.
The flight was incredible to say the least! A picture says 1,000 words– look and you’ll see. 45 minutes flew by. Denise and Tom are very knowledgeable about hang gliding and gave us so many awesome suggestions about places to go around the North Shore. Their helper– Heidi — even gave us a map with circled activities!
I highly encourage you to give it a try. Even if you’re not a fan of heights! The beauty of the island from above will quickly cancel out your fears. Enjoy!

MUST DO! My husband and I booked a spontaneous sunrise flight while we were visiting the island and it was an experience we won’t ever forget!
First off though, Denise and Tom are the friendliest, most personable, most professional people ever! Once we arrived at the airfield, they both greeted us with big smiles despite how early it was and how sleepy my husband and I were.
Now for the flight. I do not like flying. I am prone to motion sickness and I’ve only been on a plane ONCE before deciding to do this. Why the hell would I decide to do this? Who the hell knows… It sounded cool and I went with it and dragged my husband along with me.
We booked a 30-​min flight and that was just enough time for us. I was starting to get woozy the last 10 mins. of the flight. Should’ve taken my Dramamine… the Sea-​Bands weren’t enough! But motion sickness aside, the flight itself was incredible. There’s no better way to see the island than from the sky. We even saw a whale breach while we were up there… it was amazing! We were taught how to steer the glider and Denise & Tom would let us take the reins as much or as little as we wanted.
Once we landed, we were able to watch our photos and movie. The quality of the photos and the video are TOP NOTCH. Tom knows what he’s doing and takes incredible pride in capturing those awesome moments in the sky. They offered a military discount for us since my husband is in the service and we were able to purchase the photos and DVDs for a deal!
Tom and Denise also had coffee for us, we got t-​shirts, and they even suggested local places to eat and visit. They really made our first experience with gliding incredible. I would recommend them to anyone visiting the island. We were also lucky enough to fly while Obama was in town, apparently Paradise Air is cool enough to fly even when the President’s controlling the skies!

This was an absolutely great experience. The views were fantastic and the flight was fun and the lesson informative. As a private pilot, it was really neat to experience flying an completely different type of aircraft from what I’m used to. Denise was a wonderful instructor and very safe. If you’re in Oahu, this is a must do. Leave all fear at home, this is a totally safe and fun experience!

Beautiful people!
Very professional and well run!
Safety is job #1 which I’m TOTALLY down with!!! Seriously
The flight was absolutely amazing!
A PERFECT Day Thanks to Denise and Tom!
Would definitely recommend doing this while in Hawaii! I will be back!!!

I don’t even know how to start off writing this review. Tom and Denise has provided me an unforgettable experience with my first powered hang gliding! From the scheduling to the actual lesson, they both guided me with friendliness and ease. Although Paradise Air provided me a detailed driving directions, getting there was actually easier than I thought using my phone’s GPS.
The only thing I was worried about was the weather since I only went to Oahu just for this adventure back in September 2015. I highly suggest to go with the one-​hour lesson, you will never regret it. It was that good that I decided to pursue LSA certification and will schedule a lesson next week in the mainland! Thanks Paradise Air!

Don’t think twice… book NOW!
My son lives on Oahu and we visit often. We always look for fun activities every visit.
He’s too young to go sky diving so we started searching for other adventurous things to do as he is a bit of a daredevil.
Searched hang gliding and actually stumbled across a different business who has only been in business for less than a year and was closed for december and january. Thank God he was closed and I searched more to find Paradise Air.
It was a Monday at 9 pm and I sent an inquiry about time frames for Wednesday. Denise emailed me back in less than 5 minutes saying they would LOVE to get Hunter in the air. She gave me 2 availabilities and said she’d call me the next day after her first set of flights.
Talk about a quick response and so thorough yet sweet and personalized.
Her driving directions and notes were spot on and when we got there for the 630 am sunrise flight, they were already there.
Tom is the cinematographer for tons of movies like Bond movies, Pointbreak, Terminal Velocity. They have the most experience than anyone and all their 5 star reviews are REAL and deserved. Hunter is only 15. They treated him so well, offered coffee, water and snacks. We learned so much and they took great care of him and us. Their hangar is awesome, tons of pictures of them and famous people including some Presidents. Denise is the most accomplished female skydiver/​pilot on the entire island from what we can tell.
We bought the video, pictures and got a t-​shirt. Student kamaaina discount and well worth every penny. They gave us a lot of other local recommendations also. Gotta get my hubby in the air the next time.
Book this activity and you won’t regret the experience and you will love Tom and Denise.

Our flight lesson with Denise and Tom was truly an amazing experience. Not only did we enjoy the breath taking views during our flight, but we enjoyed the conversations we had with them. I would definitely recommend Paradise Air for everyone that is looking for a unique experience while visiting Oahu.

Tom and Denise are amazing! Unfortunately our flights were booked during the weekend Obama was coming in and of course that entails stricter flight regulations. They informed us that we wouldn’t be able to do the 60 minute ride the day we were originally scheduled. But they then informed us that there was an opening for the week before. Thankfully we live here so we were pretty flexible and could accommodate the change in schedule.
After the reschedule, we received an email with instructions on what to wear, what to bring and a link with directions to the airfield. It was very detailed although we had already both been there so it wasn’t too difficult to find.
The hangar was pretty easy to spot since both of the trikes were out. We headed over and were immediately welcomed with hugs. Denise and Tom were extremely knowledgeable about the island as the both of us pointed out things we had never seen before. And it wasn’t at all uncomfortable having a conversation with them. They have those personalities that make you feel like you’ve been friends for forever.
The trike ride itself was amazing and I saw more than I knew existing up in north shore. Even saw someone getting shacked at pipe from the skies! You can steer as much or as little as you want. They don’t pressure you to fly if you’re not comfortable and they continuously check how you’re doing if you do decide to steer. We were lucky to go on a very still morning so for the most part it was smooth sailing. I would definitely recommend going on the earlier flights for this reason.
Upon our arrival back at the airfield we were able to view both our videos and pictures before we purchased them. We helped ourselves to coffee as we waited for the DVDs to burn.
It was an amazing experience and I would definitely recommend it over skydiving. And if you’re sitting here reading this debating on whether or not it’s worth it? Don’t. It’s so worth it if you can afford it. They do offer various discounts so don’t hesitate to ask about them. And I would go with the 60 minute flight. You just see so much more than you would on the shorter flights. What’re you waiting for?

Great experience flying with Paradise Air. From phone inquiry & questions over the phone to the actual flight, it was a very smooth experience. Great driving directions are given in an email after you book. It definitely takes the full hour to get to the airfield from Waikiki with no traffic in the morning.

What can I say about Denise that hasn’t been said already?! My boyfriend and I flew with Paradise Air literally less than 24 hours after arriving on O’ahu. I’m an adventure seeker and this was the perfect fit for us. While I initially contacted PA because of their awesome reviews and option to fly couples up together, we ended up flying one by one with Denise because her husband Tom was unavailable due to a recent surgery. A little bummed but definitely didn’t deter us from booking with them.
We arrived and a super nice lady by the name of Heidi was assisting another customer who had already flown. The good thing about PA is that they don’t overbook and they take the time to assist their customers from beginning to end. Filling out disclosures, answering questions, making conversation, and getting to know you! After being on the island for 7 days now we’ve experienced the highly commercial side of Waikiki and the interaction with Denise and Heidi was definitely quite the opposite of a «tourist trap».
Pricing was similar to a skydiving adventure; however, the flight, the views, the flight lesson, the duration, the safety, and the thoroughness we experienced with PA is priceless and incomparable to any other!
We purchased flights, video, and photos (on a burned DVD) and received two awesome t-​shirts as gifts.
Mahalo Denise and Heidi for the memories and your hospitality! Crossing my fingers to come back in the future!

This was AWESOME!!! Denise was amazing.
We did the sunrise flight lesson and it was just a wonderful experience.
She was very flexible as to if, when, or how much actually controlling I did while in the air. She explained what was going on and why, and at no point did I ever feel nervous about her abilities.
Tom was recuperating from surgery so we didn’t get to meet him, but I can assure you we will be back and will meet him on the next go around.
We bought the picture and video package and it all came out great.
Thanks again!

I can’t emphasize this enough. If you are even slightly considering this activity, do it! They say it’s like no other flying you’ve ever done, and they’re right. Words can’t describe the thrill of zooming off the runway and lifting into the morning sky, just you, your instructor and a contraption that’s basically a motorcycle attached to a kite. Look down to either side of you. There’s nothing but air and the ground below. Grip onto the sides of the glider and steer, and feel how responsive this simple aircraft can be. Soak in all the gorgeous views of Oahu’s North Shore and the sun rising above the clouds. You’ll be spoiled for the rest of your time on the island.
This makes Paradise Air a worthwhile experience in itself, but what really puts it over the top are the instructors Tom and Denise. Your interaction with them begins long before you even meet them, as they insist you make reservations over the phone and not through an online form (though they do have a very informative website). This way they can get to know a little about you and vice versa, answer any questions and put your mind at ease, especially if you’re a first timer. Denise suggested I take the sunrise flight despite my hesitation of getting up so early on my honeymoon, but she was absolutely right. Conditions were perfect, even after having to drive through a steady rain shower to cross the island.
You can tell from the get go that these two individuals are passionate about their work, and I never once did I feel nervous before the flight because I knew I was in good hands. They run a tight ship, so give yourself time to get there and make your appointment, as their calendar is full every day. Tom was my flight instructor/​tour guide, and we stayed in constant contact through the headset as he told me about the ins and outs of ultralight flight, atmospheric science, the geography and history of the North Shore, and more travel tips than I could keep track of. He also took some great pictures of the flight from a camera mounted on the wing (you can’t bring your own phone, camera, GoPro or any other loose item on the flight). His cameras also take in-​flight video that you can purchase afterward. They even burn the DVD right as you’re cooling down back in the hangar afterward.
I’ve worked on the deck crew of a ship and I can tell you the best captains share one trait. They are extremely thorough, never overlooking even the smallest detail when it comes to safety and proper operation of their vessel. That’s Tom. He reminded – repeatedly – why I made the right choice as opposed to the competing powered hang gliding business at the airfield. He’s earned the right to do so. Paradise Air doesn’t advertise, nor does it need to. If you’re hesitant about flying, put your trust in their perfect 12-​year safety record and the fact that you’re in the hands of true pros. If you’re hesitant about the early wakeup call, go on one of the first days of your trip, as mainlanders’ body clocks will still think it’s later in the day. If you’re hesitant about the price, look to trim costs elsewhere on your trip and understand that this activity will give you an enormous bang for your buck.
I had the thrill of a lifetime, I learned a lot, I have something to brag about to my friends while making a couple new ones, and I found a new hobby that I hope will last a lifetime. That’s what travel is all about.

Denise, Tom and Tracy were all extremely sweet and friendly! My friend and I were looking for something memorable to end our Hawaii trip (skydiving, shark caging…), and randomly came across Paradise Air on Unilocal.We’re thinking, powered hang-​gliding? Why not? We called Saturday night around 5pm regarding possible openings for the following day. Denise picked up, and said they had an opening for noon the next day, and that’s how it all went down.
Before arrival, we received extremely detailed driving instructions, that emphasized not to use Google Maps for most of the drive. It’s a little scary not having GPS tell you where to go, but we got there safely and efficiently. Our experience was wonderful all around, from arrival to the very end. My friend and I both flew and directed the hang-​glide the entire 45 minutes, and felt completely safe (I mean, Denise & Tom were there and very assuring). They took amazing photos for us in-​flight that I highly recommend you order!
Extra note to show how good these people are: After our flying session, I noticed my cash was missing from my bag. I recalled a random man asking if my friend and I had lost anything. We shrugged it off, not giving it a second thought. But when I lost my cash, I immediately called Denise to ask if she could contact the man (since we remembered he was servicing one of the planes there). It’s a close-​knit community so she quickly reached the pilot and confirmed he had found my cash (he turned out to be a part-​time pilot, and a full-​time police officer). Overall, a very stressful experience with a happy ending. I can’t thank them both enough!

This review is LONG LONG overdue! I apologize Denise, Tom and Tracy for not reviewing sooner!
My husband and I spent about a week on O’ahu during the last week of April and first week of May. We were originally scheduled to fly on Thursday (sunrise), but because of the high winds weather, we got canceled :(However Denise was able to squeeze us in that Saturday which just happened to be our last day on the island!
Note, if you are on the end with the sky divers, you are on the wrong end! Head down the street until you see a row of white hangars.
Upon arrival, both Denise and Tom were in the air, and Tracy was there to great us! She is so pleasant! The flight itself was amazing. Denise makes you feel very safe and secure. You have the option to steer and fly, but with my short arms I let her do 85% of the flying while I enjoyed the ride. We paid for the 45 minute session (each). I started to get a little air sick around 40 minutes in. So take something beforehand if you’re prone to air sickness! Denise instructed me to hold on to the steering which made it go completely away. I was so relieved lol.
Make an appointment.
Get there early.
Do not pass up this amazing experience!

GREATEST EXPERIENCE EVER!!! i think this was the highlight of my entire trip in hawaii. toms and denise are verrrrry experienced and the the friendliest two people. you will learn so much by the end of the tour trust me. not to mention the amazing views you get! you get to go above clouds and see the ocean, mountains, a volcano etc. we were first planning to fly on a helicopter but felt like we wouldnt be getting our money worth by just flying for 15 minutes and not doing much. im so glad we chose this tour.
my pilot was tom and i felt like he knew everything and was easy to talked to. everyone made you feel really excited and were so kind. i recommend this 100% you wont regret it!

If you are looking for something exciting, safe and a «must-​do» in Oahu, I highly (HIGHLY) recommend to fly with Denise and Tom from Paradise Air.
My girlfriend and I were so happy that we flew with Denise and Tom first flight of the day, just shortly after sunrise. I have to say that the sunrise flight is definitely the best time as you can experience the break of the day on a tropical island. That day, Tom was my pilot and he is a very experienced pilot. We flew over many different places over the North Shore (pineapple plantation fields, cattle ranches, mountains, ridges, beaches … even up to the cloud levels!). Tom was a great tour guide to point out tips and hints for places to go, diners to eat and activities to do. From the air, it is very hard to describe the full beauty of nature and you can actually see sea turtles or dolphins from above! It worth every bit to get the video/​photos for the trip.
Just a heads up, the road might be a little tricky to get there so get there early and try to make for the first run! You will NOT regret flying with them!

This was hands down the #1 must do while in O’ahu! I was lucky enough to have been squeezed in as the last flight of the day after originally having conflicts in our schedules and boy am I glad that was the case as I was lucky enough to extend my original 30 minute introductory lesson to the full hour flight. Once in the air you don’t want to come back down because not only are you having fun but you’re also learning the basics to powered hang gliding and retaining very good info while practicing all at the same time! Best experience!
You cannot leave O’ahu without having tried Paradise Air with Tom and Denise!
I originally went on my flight lesson on March 23, but upon my revisit to the island this month, I booked for my friend to do his lesson on May 21, and he surely wasn’t disappointed!
Tracy also does an amazing job of keeping you entertained and fitted while you wait for your turn for the flight lesson. They all suggested some great spots to try up in the North Shore that didn’t disappoint :)

If you’re visiting Oahu this is an absolute must!
I have been to Oahu before but seeing the north shore from the air was an incredible experience. Denise was my pilot and my husband flew with Tom. Denise was incredibly helpful from the time I booked our fights — advising me to make sure we’d have the best experience. Once we took off, Denise helped me relax and gave me an amazing experience to remember — pointing out whales from the air. Steering didn’t come easy to me and Denise was all encouragement.
Tom and Denise were super helpful afterwards too — mailing me the video of the flight since I accidentally got the still pictures instead of the video.
Can not recommend Paradise Air enough.

Wow. This was such an awesome experience! Tom and Denise are absolutely wonderful owners/​instructors of their business. They really love what they do, and they really love their customers. I spent my birthday morning with them doing a sunrise flight, and I cannot even begin to tell you how incredible it was. I am afraid of heights, and flying, but wanted to do something big for my birthday. So glad I found them and chose to do this. I really had the best time ever. Not only would I recommend this excursion to my friends and family, but I cannot wait to do this again!
I booked 2 months in advance and I do recommend booking early. If you don’t mind an 0530 show time, do the sunrise flight, it’s absolutely worth it!

If you’re looking for a terrific activity on Oahu that’s a little different — try powered hang gliding at Paradise Air. Not only is it an incredible amount of fun — it’s also one of the most scenic ways to see Oahu. You’re flying much lower than a helicopter or plane — and you’re flying much slower — so you’ve got an incredible view.
Tom was my pilot — we took off early on a Saturday morning from Dillingham Airfield and flew over the Koolau mountain range, over the Polynesian Cultural Center, just above the coastline on the North Shore and around the tip of the Island at Kaena Point. Along the way we could see lush forests, rivers, mountain lakes, the incredible clear blue waters of the Pacific with the coral reefs and the North Shore’s famous surfing spots. We could see Honolulu, Pearl Harbor and even Diamond Head in the distance. Wow. What a trip.
BTW — two suggestions: book an early morning flight. And go barefoot!

This was the most amazing thing ever!
I’m afraid of heights but soon after takeoff, I was in good shape :)
The view is amazing from a couple thousand feet above ground!
The instructors are very cool! I flew with Denise and she did not pressure me to hold the handles or whatever if I wasn’t comfortable. Very considerate, even of my cold feet.
The temperature drops as you get higher, so wear socks and closed toed shoes. I wore flip flops — freezing toes and foot.
Other than the cold feet, it was amazing! Life changer!